Monday, June 15, 2015

Having worked in primarily Christian, English speaking countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the past ten years, I knew that Egypt would be different in many different ways. But I didn't expect the difference to become so apparent in the very first meeting that I had.

I arrived at the guest apartment in Cairo at 3:30 am, after a trip that (including a long layover) took around thirty hours. My first meeting was scheduled for noon with Dr. Wahid Whaba, and his wife, Dr. Laila Risgallah.

It didn't take long for Dr. Whaba to tell me why he believes the work of
Discipling
Marketplace Leaders is important for Egypt at this time. He
said, "Christians are leaving Egypt very rapidly for Canada, the US,
Australia, New Zealand, and other places. Over 100,000 have left so
far. We are between 15-17% of the population as it is, so this is a big
exodus. But I believe our call comes from Jeremiah 29 which reminds us
to stay and build houses, and plant gardens, and seek the peace and
prosperity of the city. This relates to business. But we don't know how
to do it. The pressures are immense. The economy has suffered since
the revolution in 2011. That is why I think the message of DML at this
time is so important."

In Christian countries, the work of DML is to help people understand
that there is no split between sacred and secular, and that all of our
work should be done "as unto the Lord" with the Church being at work from
Monday to Saturday in the Marketplace. In a country where the
Christians are by far the minority, where they raise their children to
know that just by virtue of their name (if it is Christian instead of
Muslim) they will not receive equal treatment, and where jobs are held
for Muslims only, it seems that there is already a deep understanding of
how faith impacts all of life. Where the opportunity is here may be in exploring how to stand firm when feeling like you are in captivity,
as in Jeremiah 29, and understanding how to do be the Church from Monday-Saturday
in a world that doesn't accept your faith. We can look to examples
like Joseph and Daniel, both of whom were in captivity yet rose to be
the top government official right next to the pharaoh/king, due to working
with excellence and integrity. Both of these men could have had the
attitude of not trying their best as it wasn't their land; of cheating
the land, just as they were cheated of freedom. Yet both men decided to
seek the peace and prosperity of the land and work diligently, and
through that work, not only they but their God was recognized.

I have used the example of Joseph and Daniel many times, but it now
jumps to the top of the list of Biblical characters when examining the
business people God used throughout the Bible. Another message that finds its
way into the DML teaching is being both a light and a covenant (which
comes from Isaiah 42: 5-7) in the midst of darkness. As you know, when
you turn a light off, it doesn't take any time for darkness to take
over. When Christians leave Egypt, they take their light with them. To
stay takes courage and prayer; it is not an easy decision, based on
many factors. But for those who stay, knowing the Church's affirmation
of their work in the Marketplace, intentionally praying for each other
as they work and bear witness through their actions, and having a place
to talk through the frustrations and challenges of working in such an
environment, can become a primary role of the church. The reason that
the Muslim religion was so successful in Indonesia was because the
Muslims went in and worked in business, and through commerce won
people. The Christians had arrived at the same time but set up churches
and tried to win people through revivals. There is an opportunity here
for Egypt. Dr. Wahid believes that this is a crucial and important
time for Christians in Egypt and that the ministry of DML can be
instrumental in it.

Other
differences that I have observed, maybe you are wondering? Dangerous at this time
as they may be gross generalizations based on very little knowledge, but
here are some:

View from my window

It is obvious that in order to drive in
Cairo, you have to be an INCREDIBLE parallel parker and be very
comfortable with very narrow spaces as cars are parked everywhere.

Egyptian men seem very hospitable and
helpful as several men around me in the ninety-minute customs line checked in with me several times afterward to make sure that I
got all my luggage, that I had a ride, or just to see if there was
anything else I needed. Very polite, very hospitable.

Cairo is very dry and dusty - they say you
can dust your house and two hours later have to dust it again. The
country receives between 0-7 inches of rain per year, depending on the
location. Contrast this to Liberia which receives 220 inches of rain
per year, or Michigan which receives 32 inches of rain per year. This
dust causes lung problems as well.

I learned that most widows do not remarry here - it is considered disloyal to your late husband.

There is a heaviness here - a stress that is almost palpable. I feel it emotionally and physically.

It is interesting to me that my initial reaction to being in Egypt is
similar to my initial reaction to Liberia - both love and fear at the
same time. For Liberia, it was post-war with ex-combatants all around,
causing some fear, but a love for the people and compassion for the
hardships they were experiencing. For Egypt, there is fear in the
possibility of persecution, of terrorism, of IS, and yet so quickly a
love for the people and a compassion for the hardships they are
experiencing.

Bob Reed

What does it mean to be a "Reed in the Wind?"

From Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey:

The Virtue of Flexibility

Trees look strong compared with the wild reeds in the field. But when the storm comes the trees are uprooted, whereas the wild reeds, while moved back and forth by the wind, remain rooted and are standing up again when the storm has calmed down.

Flexibility is a great virtue. When we cling to our own positions and are not willing to let our hearts be moved back and forth a little by the ideas or actions of others, we may easily be broken. Being like wild reeds does not mean being wishy-washy. It means moving a little with the winds of the time while remaining solidly anchored in the ground. A humorless, intense, opinionated rigidity about current issues might cause these issues to break our spirits and make us bitter people. Let's be flexible while being deeply rooted.

Paying Attention to the Wind

"The wind blows where it wills." That was Jesus, who compared the spirit of God to the wind. The Reeds have followed the Wind from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Monrovia, Liberia, to Accra, Ghana, then to Kitale, Kenya. Now the work of Discipling Marketplace Leaders is spreading through West, East, and Northern Africa, as well as to Central America. Join Renita as she still seeks to understand what it means to be "shaken by the Wind."